New law requires Automatic External Defibrillators in health clubs - 01/04/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 4, 2007
BOSTON – State Rep. Peter Koutoujian, D-Waltham, today announced the enactment of legislation requiring Massachusetts health clubs to have at least one automatic external defibrillator (AED) and one staff person on duty who is qualified to use it.
The new law will ensure that individuals suffering from cardiac arrest while at a health club –as many do - will have a dramatically better chance of survival. Koutoujian became concerned with the issue after a friend died of cardiac arrest at a local health club that did not have an AED on the premises. Koutoujian worked with Sen. Robert O’Leary and Rep. Susan Gifford on the bill after one of their constituents, Kayla Richards, 22, of Plymouth, died in March from cardiac arrest at her local health club.
“This is a great victory for public healthy and public safety in Massachusetts,” said Koutoujian. “This bill will literally save lives. I would like to commend the American Heart Association and International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association and my colleagues for crafting a law that will save thousands of lives. I think everyone will be able to walk into a health club and feel safer knowing that an AED is on the premises.”
AEDs can be used to “shock” a heart that has gone into cardiac arrest back into rhythm. According the American Heart Association, for each minute that passes after a sudden cardiac arrest, there is a 10 percent reduction in the chance for survival.
“The citizens of Massachusetts will be safer while exercising, thanks to the passage of Kayla’s Law,” said Allyson Perron, the Massachusetts advocacy director for the American Heart Association. “Sudden cardiac arrest strikes 900 times per day in the United States. We applaud Representative Koutoujian for keeping the citizens of Massachusetts safer by his diligent support of this bill.”
Health and fitness facilities are one of the top ten places for incidents of sudden cardiac arrest.
“Kayla would have had a much better chance for survival had an AED been on site,” said Koutoujian. “Her tragic passing will undoubtedly save many other lives, and her family should be commended for their bravery in working to advocate for legislation so that other victims of cardiac arrest will have a better chance of survival.”
Health clubs will have one year to comply with the law upon passage.
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